Why Pelikan?

The early days of 2018 have provided me some time for introspection (there is not much else you can do when in the midst of a bomb cyclone). There has been a lot to reflect upon personally, professionally, and globally. This past year’s world events alone have been quite tumultuous, leaving the future seemingly more uncertain than ever. Trying to turn to lighter fare, one thing that has been on the forefront of my mind recently is a question that I’ve been asked several times over the past few months. That question can be summed up in two words; “Why Pelikan?” In over three years of blogging here at the Perch, I can’t believe that I haven’t addressed this sooner. It’s true that there are many great manufacturers out there who have produced a countless number of awesome and desirable fountain pens. What then does Pelikan have that puts it above all of the other brands in my mind and how informed am I to even make that type of declaration? I hope to share with you my experiences before Pelikan and why I chose to dedicate myself to just that brand of fountain pen. I thought this would make for excellent fodder for the first post of the year. All I can say up front is that Pelikan pens have some indescribable quality, a character and a discipline, that makes owning and using them a joy that transcends the sum of their parts. By the end of this article, I hope to be able to impart upon you just a little sense of that magic.

Go BIG or go home. Two M1000s and an M1050

Before exploring why I chose Pelikan, a brief history of my journey with fountain pens is in order. I had always wanted to try a fountain pen as my tastes run toward the traditional. There was something about a nib and ink that had always fascinated me. Of course, nobody that I knew used fountain pens and there were no mainstream brick and mortar stores readily available to me. Simply put, I had no idea how to get started and so my interest in the topic remained largely dormant. Fast forward to 2009 when I received my first fountain pen, a Waterman Expert, gifted to me when I graduated from medical school. I was overjoyed to finally own an “ink pen” but a complete lack of knowledge and a lot of frustration with the nib and cartridge led me to only briefly use the pen before discarding it and moving on. That sour experience might have been a small footnote in my life and the end of my desire to write with a fountain pen for all eternity had it not been for a fortunate stroke of serendipity. On a cold November day in 2012, a random catalog arrived in the mail from Colorado Pen Direct. It might have been discarded like so much junk mail but, on a lark, I flipped though the pages and that old desire to try a fountain pen resurfaced. I decided to give it another shot so I ordered a yellow Pilot Vanishing Point, a more unusual gateway pen to be sure. Perhaps the biggest and most influential difference this second time around was that I also discovered The Fountain Pen Network which provided me a great wealth of knowledge (conspicuously lacking during my first go round) and allowed me to better understand what I was doing. Armed with my VP and some know-how, I was off and running, never to look back. I loved my Vanishing Point and subsequently ordered a yellow Lamy Safari (I like yellow) from The Goulet Pen Company. I also enjoyed that experience and started venturing down the path of a collector as is my natural inclination. When I started collecting fountain pens, I collected everything from a large swath of manufacturers; Waterman, Sheaffer, Visconti, Pilot, TWSBI, Parker, Montblanc, Esterbrook, etc. That education included exposure to modern and vintage models encompassing all types of filling systems along with a great variety of nibs. It was a wonderful schooling in the history and evolution of the industry and it gave me a level of confidence that I had not previously known.

In 2013, I acquired my first Pelikan, a lightly used white M205 from Malaysia. I was captivated by the piston filling system, the clean design, and the perfect balance in the hand when posted. I started to specifically seek out other Pelikans. It wasn’t a spot decision or something that happened overnight. I simply began to gravitate towards other Pelikan models in varying shapes and sizes such that a flock started to grow. It was a slow transition at first but these birds started commanding my attention more and more and were easily able to outcompete all of the other brands in my collection. That initial M205 was soon followed by an old-style green striped M600 and then an M400 Tortoiseshell White. The more Pelikan pens that I purchased, the less I liked non-Pelikan models. Of course, I was still on a poor medical resident’s salary at this time so I started selling all of my prior non-Pelikan acquisitions to fund my purchases, a decision that I have never regretted. I was fortunate to try both the Classic/Traditional series and the Souverän line early into my Pelikan collecting experience. As such, I really came to appreciate the quality of the lower end Classic series as well as the lower price tag. I also loved the variety that had been released since the line’s introduction in 1985. To give my collecting a focus, I chose to concentrate on the Classic series (M1xx/M2xx) which really made hunting for the 90 or so models released to date great fun. That collection is now 98% complete, missing only two very rare examples. Of course, I have also picked up a lot of other models as well over the years. The heritage and available variety of the pens released by the company really allows you to focus your collecting if that’s your thing (ie; certain sized models, colors, vintage vs modern, etc). I’m not completely without sentimentality though and to this day, I still own the Vanishing Point and Safari that sparked the fire of my fountain pen passion.

For the past four years, I have collected Pelikan pens exclusively. So what are some of the intrinsic qualities that helped to win me over? To start, the piston assembly is outstanding, so good that it hasn’t been improved upon in decades. Pelikan’s piston fillers fill almost completely in one cycle and filling the pen saturates the feed thereby enabling it to instantly start laying down ink. The interchangeable nib is also a unique and welcomed boon to users. This allows for easy customization or a simple replacement if a nib isn’t to your liking or worse, inadvertently damaged. Better yet, some of the older Pelikan nibs that have a lot more character can be swapped into modern bodies which adds a completely new dimension (and joy) to the writing experience. If you’re anything like me, you hate running out of ink. It’s particularly bothersome to me as I only carry one pen at a time. As such, I value the large number of Pelikan’s piston fillers that have an easily viewed ink window which is often nicely integrated into the design. Speaking of design, small nuances such as the pelican beak clip and the conservative German aesthetics make for a style that I can get behind and appreciate. These pens are not at all “blingy” or intrusive and can be at home in the board room as much as the park for some journaling. All of the above would be for nought if it took a too long to get down to the business of dashing off a quick thought. Pelikan excels here as well. The cap is easily removed with a simple turn which allows you to quickly get writing. When capped, the threads hold securely and I have never had a pen come unscrewed unintentionally in my pocket. Thankfully, the pen can remain uncapped for a bit because the feed is well saturated and resists drying out better than many others that I’ve tried. I have, inadvertently, left pens inked and unused for over a month only to pick them up and find that they write just as well from the first stroke as if it were freshly inked. All of this is well and fine but might be negated by a pen that is a nuisance to clean and maintain. Here again, Pelikan outdoes themselves. Their pens are easily flushed and the nibs can be removed, if need be, for a more intense soaking/cleaning. Should the piston begin to stiffen, a tiny drop of pure silicone grease can restore it to like new functionality in an instant, no special tools required. This also speaks to the durability of Pelikan’s models which has generally been excellent from their earliest offerings through modern times. With a collection of features like that, you could ask; “Why not Pelikan?”

Some other smaller features worth noting are the sheer number of pen sizes available. There is a size for every hand out there. No matter whether you like a smaller pen or a larger one, Pelikan has something to accommodate. I really appreciate this variety as it allows me to draw on different models for different situations (ie; M800 or smaller sized pens for daily travel to and from work and M1000 sized pens for home use). The size of their pens is also particularly well thought out for those of us who prefer to post their caps. The M2xx/M4xx/M6xx models in particular take on a near perfect balance in the hand when posted. In addition to all of the modern offerings, there is a tremendous back catalog of vintage models that continues to hold up as great and durable writers. Also, don’t take my neglect of cartridge pens as a sign of poor craftsmanship. There are many great offerings there too, they just aren’t my thing. Finally, the company has 180 years of very interesting history. I appreciate that kind of heritage which, for me, adds an intangible quality to the brand.

Don’t get me wrong, Pelikan pens aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. There are warts too and I fully acknowledge that. Inconsistent pricing across continents is a major problem and many of the pens are somewhat overpriced for what they actually are, particularly when compared to comparable models from other manufacturers. I used to recommend Pelikan’s Classic line as a great entry point to the brand. In the last several years, I feel that their piston fillers have been priced out of the reach of most beginners. In addition to that, not all of the lines are treated equally in terms of finishes with the M6xx and M1xxx models notably getting fewer refreshes than other pens in the Souverän line, a sore point for those who favor those sizes. The US distributor is also somewhat lackluster in their performance either due to their own policies or those handed down from Hannover. The fact that US customers who purchase pens overseas are denied domestic warranty service is somewhat ridiculous. These are not grey market purchases but rather sales made through authorized retailers. Such a policy completely ignores the global ecosystem. In addition to the aforementioned, Pelikan’s cartridge system has an odd implementation which requires torque from the back of the pen’s barrel to seat the cartridge, a less than reassuring mechanism. Finally, today’s nibs have blobby tipping and are very firm, lacking any real character and only available in the boring standard sizes of EF, F, M, and B. Pelikan did away with all of their more interesting nib options years ago. There is a big difference when compared with nibs from the mid 1990s and earlier and it’s a shame that Pelikan has not done more on that front though its hard to fault them given the overall dependability of the writing experience. One thing that you may see pointed out disproportionately in online forums is the quality control of nibs that leave the factory. I agree that it is hugely disappointing to invest the amount of money that Pelikan pens command only to get a pen that writes poorly or not at all but this is hardly a problem endemic to the company and certainly a situation that is no worse than what other manufacturers subject their customers to.

To sum it all up, I love the brand, warts and all for the above stated reasons and for some that I’m sure I’ve forgotten to mention. The traits that I describe above come together and transcend the sum of their parts. There is some elusive quality when writing with a Pelikan that is hard to describe but, whatever it is, it has me lock, stock, and barrel. I don’t mean to imply that other brands aren’t awesome or special, they certainly are in their own ways and I’m sure there are those who feel just as passionately about Sailor or Montblanc for instance. I know that I’m missing out on great models produced by other companies but there is only so much time and money to invest in this hobby of ours and I do better when I have a focus. That’s one of the beauties of our fountain pen ecosystem, there is something for everybody. For me, Pelikan is the ticket and will remain the unabashed focus of my passion.

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108 responses

another great read, Joshua. although i only own 4 fountain pens they are all Pelikans (3 8xx and a 205 and honestly I’m not that fond of the 205. it just doesn’t have the same feel and the nib needed a lot of tlc to get into an acceptable range.) I don’t consider myself a collector but i do love writing with them… and secretly miss them when i travel for business,,, they never leave my desk. (the k800 ballpoint is my traveling companion) all that being said, its still hard to come up with my answer to
‘Why Pelikan”. i love the way they look and write. i just have no desire to try something else only to find that i don’t enjoy it the same way. i am totally happy with my pens and enjoy reading how much you enjoy yours as well. thanks!

Thanks Mark! I can understand the difficulty in articularing “Why Pelikan.” It took me a lot of thought to put the piece together. I guess the brand either speaks to you or it doesn’t and, if it does, its not usually something so objective that it can be easily articulated. Enjoy your flock.

A great read Joshua and I have to agree with nearly everything that you say. The one exception is your comment about cartridge/converter fitting. I have several cartridge Pelikans, the most resent being the P200, and in all cases the cartridge/converter fits very securely, interesting. I started on the Fountain Pen trail in around 1955, mostly with Parkers but now, with the exception of a couple of Montblancs and a Sailor 1911 Realo, I buy exclusively Pelikan. My two daily pens are a M600 (old style) which I bought in 1991 and a Parker 75 with needlepoint nib.

Hi Peter. Thanks for reading. The cartridges can have a decent bit of wobble on the nipple at the back of the feed until seated properly by the barrel. It is a fully functional solution, for sure, just not the best one out there IMHO. I point it out as a negative because it usually brings about a lot of confusion amongst those unfamiliar with Pelikan’s implementation.

Thank you for that very interesting insight into your thoughts on collecting and using fountain pens, your aesthetics and the reasoning behind your focus!

For me it is the M300 line that is really special. I do own a clear M200 [custom 1.1 mm italic] that I really like as well as the beautiful M400 White Tortoise [custom architect grind (E)EF down/0.7 mm sidewards], but I really love my M300 Black [custom EEF] and my M320 [great and soft factory M]. These tiny piston fillers fascinate me, they are little perfect wonders of beauty and funtionality.

Having really small hands the bigger models upwards the M400 size almost feel obscenely huge to me and uncomfortable to use, but the smaller sizes and the vintage models are definitely something I will concentrate on collecting in coming years.

I do not exclusively seek out Pelikans, my niche are small pens like vintage KaWeCo, esp. the Sports and Dia serieses, the tiny Montblanc 114 line (too bad these a re not piston fillers, I do love mine but they make me appreciate Pelikan’s M3xx-line even more), and Japanese Long-Short-pocket pens.

And that, as you said, is one of the great thing about that hobby of ours: There is a niche for everyone and still so much to discover.

You’re welcome. The M300 line is too small for my liking, the only Souveran that I cannot comfortably use. They remind me of mini-golf pencils. Like I said though, that’s one of the beautiful things about the brand, a pen for every sized hand. There are a lot of beautiful M320s out there and I think we may see that orange marbled finished resurrected in a bigger pen this year.

Hi, Julie! I echo your love of the M300/M320 line of Pelikans. I just love those tiny little perfect baby pens. I currently own four and I’ve just purchased four more (my bank account is crying!). Of the four I already own, I had three of them reground to stubs. I love stubs, and Pelikans make awesome stubs when ground by a competent nibmeister. I currently have the M320s in Ruby Red, Pearl, and Orange Marble; and one M300 in (of course) the Classic Green Stripe. Well, I am currently grieving for those four right now; I have misplaced the container they are in, and have yet to find it. It’s in my house somewhere; I have more looking to do (with a bad back, so slowly), but I’m sure I’ll find them eventually.

Well, I’ve missed them so much, I started looking at the minis online. And seeing that some of them are getting pretty rare (especially the Orange), I decided to expand my collection. I ordered the Pearl and the Green Stripe in fine point, and the Orange Marble and Ruby Red in medium point. I don’t plan to have those reground to stubs; I will use them as they are, unless there are problems with those nibs, which I don’t expect.

I also have very small hands, and these adorable little pens fit my hand perfectly. I marvel at just how perfect they are; exquisitely tiny examples of Pelikan’s incredibly-functional piston fillers and beautifully classic colors and designs. And granted; the amount of ink they can hold is limited because, after all, they are minis; but they hold more than one would expect for such tiny pens. I can fill one and write for a very long time before I have to fill it again. I’m expecting my new minis any day now from three different sources. I can’t wait to get them in my hands, ink them up, and start writing.

I hope Pelikan reads this blog; if they do, a note to them: please come out with some new colors for the minis! Joshua has hinted (in response to my plea) at an M600 in turquoise and white. Since that is my favorite color, but also, I think, a very popular color, I’d love to see a mini in teal or turquoise. Of course, we all have our favorite colors, but all I can do is ask, right? At this point, though, I’d probably buy any new color that Pelikan presents in an M3XX line. Are you listening, Pelikan? I hope so!

Thanks Joshua for this detailed and well argued piece. It was interesting to hear your back story too. I appreciate my Pelikans for all the reasons you mentioned, although I have just three, the M205 blue demonstrator, M800 in blue, and a vintage M400 tortoise. I am yet to try the M1000 but that has long been in my sights. 😊

I’m happy to have had a forum to be able to share. It was a bit nostalgic and I enjoyed recounting my experience. That’s a nice flock you’ve put together. The nib on the M1000 is the best of the modern lot and I hope that you get to try one out one day.

Excellent points Santiago. With the wet nature of Pelikan’s feeds, I find that the behavior is well tamed by Pelikan’s inks so certainly there is some interplay there. I’m jealous of your S nib. It is on my bucket list but I doubt that I’ll be able to get over to Germany anytime soon. Definitely a dream of mine though.

“S” stands for “Special.” It is a custom ground nib from the Make A Wish nib program introduced in 2014. It is an add-on only available to those who tour the factory in Germany. Starting with a broad nib as the base, a nib specialist grinds the nib to your specifications while you wait. Unfortunately, this service is not available for a nib that you might already own but only for one purchased at the time of the visit. The nib is actually stamped with an S. You can read more about it here.

Wonderful detailed post to start the year. I am off this upcoming weekend to the Philadelphia Show. And hope you will be able to attend. Glad to have been able to be a part of putting together some of your collection. As a dealer people ask why I focus heavily on the Pelikan Brand and the answer is obvious -“it sells well repeatedly”. As they say 1,000s can’t be wrong

Thanks Bill! I have a lot of family obligations this coming weekend but will certainly try to sneak away. I cannot miss my home show and the first of the year. Haven’t been to a show since D.C. so I’m excited. Two of the pens that you sold me are actually in the photos for this post; the Genesis of the Olympiad and the Yellow M910 Toledo. Thanks for sharing you’re perspective about the brand as a dealer.

Thanks for all of your posts, and for this one in particular. You sum up both the technical aspects that make it such a pleasure to write with a Pelikan as well as the aesthetic reasons that just make Pelikans a joy to look at, to hold and to write with.

I also have a long-standing love affair with fountain pens, going back to my first–an entry-level Waterman–in the 1970s. My first Pelikan was also a used 2xx I purchased at the Levenger outlet in Delray Beach, FL. My second, the one that really fueled the pen affair, is a 4xx white tortoise shell with a broad oblique nib. I had despaired of ever writing legibly, but the care that I learned to take in writing with the BO nib required me to slow down and write larger. So for me one of the results of this fountain pen addiction is legible handwriting.

Pelikan pens have also become part of our family lore. I’m a retired pastor. When my son and daughter-in-law married in 2011, they asked my wife what to give me as a way of saying “Thank you” for doing their wedding. They wanted to give me something I’d use every day and by which I would always remember them and the wedding. She suggested a Pelikan. They found a 8xx Blue-O-Blue in a Seattle pen shop that remains my favorite.

As we enter 2018, I’m anticipating a family trip to Germany in August. Early on in the trip, we’ll be visiting Hanover. I can hardly wait to visit the Pelikan facility. I’ve seen pictures of the store and will certainly visit. With our tour agent, we’re hoping to arrange a tour of the factory. We discovered, to our disappointment, that the newly-opened Pelikan Hotel does not have enough rooms to accommodate our whole group. 😦

Thanks again for your postings, Joshua, for helping us keep up with the goings on in Pelikan world, and for today’s invitation to “display” our pens.

Thank you for the kind words Dick. That story of the Blue O’Blue is great and I appreciate you sharing it. That is something I would cherish for all time. I’m jealous of your trip to Germany. If you haven’t checked this it out already, here is the link to Pelikan’s Make A Wish Nib program that needs to be booked in advance.

Thanks for the comment Ela. I had written about this before in a post and am jealous of you living so close. I would love to get over there and experience this but I doubt that I’ll see Germany anytime soon.

Joshua, cool post, and also honest by pointing out some of the “warts”. Currently have 3 pelikan’s in my collection and enjoy them all.
Started on this “journey” many years ago, when the boarding school I was had a choice of either FP or pencil to write with, ball-points were a “no no”, and recently I have found myself gravitating back to FP’s and actually using them again.
Enjoy your posts, please keep up the good work.

I did a similar act on reflection not too long ago, and was slightly surprised when I realized that of all the pen makes I had tried, Pelikan was my favourite. They really are excellent pens, at least back to the 1950s; I haven’t tried anything older… yet.

I purchased my first Pelikan pen last summer at a pen show. The grey marbled vintage one pictured second from the left on the top photo. It is now my favorite pen and will be looking for another one at my next pen show. Love the nib on that thing and you’ve confirmed my fear that the modern versions are not the same.

The gray marbled is one of my favorites of the marbled variants. Since we’ve seen the re-introduction of the blue and green marbled variants, I’m holding out hope that we’ll see the gray resurrected in the near future. Here’s hoping.

Another great post, Joshua. Love the way you were able to articulate the answer to “Why Pelikan?” I am working on that one still. Of my 30+ pens, only six are Pelikan’s. But they are among my most used pens. A 120 Merz & Krell, a 140, a M150, and 3 M200’s. (Cognac, Blue Marble old style, Brown Marble), all but the 120 are currently inked. Usually it is only the 140 an the M200’s. The most recent are the 140 and Brown Marbled. The other makes that I have multiples of are Esterbrook and Parker. But none of those get nearly the use my Pelikan’s do.

I’m old enough to know young persons, say under 20, that don’t know or who have never used a rotary phone. This afternoon I went over to my local UPS store to send my M800 Green Stripe to CFP for repair. The clerk asked me what I was sending and if I wanted insurance. I told him it was a fountain pen, and he didn’t know what it was. He then gave me a ballpoint pen, and I could barely sign the agreement. I told him this was why I use fountain pens.

About 2 years ago I was running a Fraternal Funeral Service (Masonic). A document is filled in with a short bio on the deceased. I told those in attendance that I’d fill it out. It was done in cursive, and I was happy with the penmanship. The younger men gathered around oohing and ahhing about the script. I learned later that none of them were ever taught cursive in school. Printing was the best they could do. I’ll bet that every one of them could run circles around me on a computer.

It still boggles my mind that cursive is not being taught. I hated cursive in school and switched to print as soon as I was allowed to. Now I regret that and had to relearn my cursive which, thankfully, wasn’t too hard. I really hope that my children get taught but, if not, I will teach them.

This lack of recognition for now vintage items is likely to only get worse as time goes on. It’s a shame that people don’t even know what a fountain pen is. I don’t think anyone is missing out on the old rotary phone.

What a wonderful way to celebrate Pelikan Pens by asking the question “Why Pelikans”. Joshua great commentary & photos on my favorite pen both the pre-war models, post war and the M series. Lately I have started to enjoy writing the 200 series, specially if you can take a broad nib and grind it to an oblique which Dan Smith has masterfully done for me on two occasions. I also like the lightness of the 200’s when writing with the pen. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Francis! I love the M2xx fountain pens. They handle well, balance beautifully, and the nibs are much cheaper. Dan has ground some nibs for me as well and his work is great. He’s improved every nib that I’ve set before him. Enjoy your flock.

Great post and very enjoyable reading, Joshua. I agree with everything you said!
Although Pelikan is not the only brand I collect, it is by far my favorite. I started with Pelikan 3 years ago, during the Christmas of 2014, with the M640 Mount Everest. At the time I only had 5 pens, but I was so impressed by the M640 than less than a month later I already had 8 birds (by now I have a decent flock and a beat up wallet 🙂 ). There is absolutely no competition for the quality of the Pelikan piston and the ability to easily change the nib.
I am looking forward for this year’s releases and to reading about them here at the Perch.

Thanks Luiz! The M640 is a unique and wonderful bird but not the most common entry point to the brand. Sounds like your flock really took off quickly. I think we’re gonna see some great releases this year.

Enjoyed your article. I have been a very big fan of Pelikan pens for years. There broad and double broad nibs are some of the best made. They write smooth as silk whether you are dealing with steel nibs 14 k or 18 k nibs
I recommend them highly for the novice to the most experienced pen collector
Louis Fisher
Plantation Florida

What a great post Joshua! I actually wondered many times what brought you to focus on Pelikan–I don’t know if you actually mentioned it in one of your posts, but I always thought it was the case. Anyway, you inspired me to ponder over my choices I have made over the last couple of years I’ve been collecting fountain pens. I think I’m going to be a little bit more focused and intentional in my purchases… Thank you so much! As always, your posts are excellent!

Very good reading with an interesting chain of pen ownership. We have met at several HUBS and I’ve learned
much.
My start as a teen was with a Black Esterbrook Pen. I hated the way I wrote, and practiced for months to duplicate a European Pen-Pals writing.
Then added some flourishes to some letters that I liked.
When out of High School, and in College I learned of a pen called a MontBlanc. It was the very best, or so I was told. One weekend I took the El into Center City Philadelphia to work in my family Jewelry Store. I went into John Wanamaker Dept Store and headed to the Stationery Dept. There under glass was a gorgeous M-B #149 with a Broad Nib. In 1961 I paid the Princely sum of $42.00 for that pen. (I still have the receipt, and box.
The M-B serves me til this date. Sometime in the 1980’s I was at a Convention in Cincinnati and visited a pen shop. So many pens that I never heard about. The owner sold me on a Pelikan and a Bexley.
I now have many Bexleys and they write terrific. The Pelikan however spoiled me from the start. Light and comfortable. Writes effortlessly, but still makes spelling errors.
My accumulation of Pelikans now looks like a rookery. My prize is a 1050 and it writes like nothing else.
I like the Namiki Vanishing points and have a dozen from the 1990’s with facets. Also some from the 1970’s but they seem more crudely made.
Saturday I’ll be visiting the Philadelphia Pen Show, and hope that some Pelikans will follow me Home if I drop a breadcrumb trail.
Keep accumulating and keep writing. In my retirement this has proven to keep me out of trouble quite well.

Good to hear from you on the blog Ed. Your collection is always a joy to see. Thanks for sharing your story. The price of that 149 is unreal! Perhaps I’ll run into you at the Philly show Saturday. See you there.

Thanks! I can’t believe it took me this long to write this post but I feel good that it’s out there. Having focus in my collection is the only saving grace that keeps me from grabbing one of everything out there. It also makes the hunt that much more fun and challenging.

2. The nibs of M800/805 are solid with no springiness but uniformally good performers.

3. The M1000 nibs are softer but not always smooth. I had an excellent experience with a B nib, moderately good experience with a M nib , but some surprises with my F nib. I had to work hard on it to make it reasonably good.

Great article, thanks. You covered all or most of the reasons that Pelikan is the favorite brand of so many of us.

I well remember the first time I saw the beak clip of a Pelikan in a b&m pen store. I wasn’t into fountain pens yet, but was something of a stationery nerd. I thought the beak clip was about the coolest thing I’d ever seen on a pen. I still think that. Only the Parker arrow clip and Montblanc’s snow cap are in the same league as aesthetic design elements, imo.

I’m also bothered by the lack of nib choices for modern Pelikans, but this is more the norm than the unique variety that, say, Pilot and Sailor offer.

There have been instances of one major pen company making nibs for another major company. It will never happen, but it would be incredible to see a new Pelikan come out with the 15 nib options one can get on a Pilot CH 912.

Yes, a 15 nib option pen isn’t going to happen (or Pilot making nibs for Pelikan), but I could see them again making nibs they’ve made in the past on a limited basis. Italic and BB being obvious possibilities.

If you don’t mind answering, are all the pens seen in the pictures in this post from your personal collection?

I like a variety of birds. The collection is roughly about 90 pens in the Classic Series and then 35 or so M8xx sized pens and 4 M1xxx sized pens with a smattering of special and standard editions in between. The flock is at just over 180 birds. The Austria is an amazing pen and well worth tracking down.

Hi Joshua, another amazing article as usual. Loved reading how you got into the brand and as you know I love Pelikan as well and the reasons you provided I wholeheartedly agree with. The preferred size for me is the M600 and I am slowely but surely collecting the city series. They have made some amazing models in this range and the Athens is my fave (but honestly, can you choose 1 particular fave?!) Also I have learned a lot from your site and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I refer fellow Pelikano’s to your blog due to this fact! Looking forward to read more from you this year! All the best, Cheetarah

Nice article. I also love Pelikans. I started using fountain pens when I started grad school back in the late 80’s. Can’t remember when I bought my first Pelikan, but I think it was an Anthracite M200. Of the approximately 100 fountain pens I own, probably 35 or so are Pelikans, from the M800 down to about 15 M200/205, and a few vintage as well. I especially like a solid dark green M200 that I have. To me Pelikans are the perfect balance between value and reliability.

Thanks Matt! The anthracite is my favorite amongst that run of M200 demonstrators from the early 2000s. Seems telling that over 1/3 of your collection is Pelikan. The fir green M200 is neat. That along with the red M205 and yellow M200 are some of my favorites. Thanks for commenting.

I think of myself as especially liking Japanese pens, yet my Pelikans (4) are high among my favorite pens. I like the M600 size best, but I love my bright red M101N the most, and I really envy your beautiful M101Ns above. I enjoyed your very thoughtful post!

I’m collecting Pelikan since 5 or 7 years. And yes, they are great. I totally agree with your comments. A lot of people ask me why I “waste” my money and Pelikan. After I think they have no idea about pens…

As a relative newbie to the fountain pen hobby (less than a year — albeit with the exception of a lovely 1980s Montblanc-made Alfred Dunhill that was a gift many years ago), I found this piece very interesting and helpful, especially as I’m about to purchase my first Pelikan. Maybe you could advise: I’m having trouble deciding between an M200 and an M215, mainly because I’ve heard rumblings of discontent from some about how light the M200 is. I understand the M215 addresses this somewhat as the barrel includes quite a lot of brass. My main question: you mention the perfect balance of the M2XX pens when posted, but does the heavier barrel weight of the M215 knock this balance off at all? I’d prefer a balanced pen to a heavy one…

I’m not necessarily opposed to writing with a light pen (a recent purchase was a vintage Conway Stewart 73, which is very light indeed but a pleasure to write with again because the balance is good when posted), but generally my young but growing collection has pens that are heavier than the M200’s 14 grams. What would you suggest? M200 or M215?

Thank you for your comment and your kind words. You’ve narrowed it down to two good choices. There is a definite difference between the M200 and M215 in terms of weight and it is noticeable in the hand. I don’t think that balance is a big issue on either model but, if it were me, I’d go with the M200. There are a lot more options out there, the ink windows are a bit more useful, and the balance is a touch better. I don’t think you’d go wrong unless you absolutely needed to have a hefty pen. Good luck deciding.

Excellent article. I agree with everything you said. I also love the feel of Pelikan. They feel better to the touch than the other pens I’ve used. I love the look. I have about fourteen vintage Pelikans, and only five modern. The vintage ones have come from all over the world. Each is in great condition. I’m not counting the three that had been mistreated. The fourteen I use regularly are over sixty years old, and ready to perform another sixty years. With care, they will last indefinitely. There are also so many excellent Pelikans available, they can be found at good prices. The new ones are also well constructed, but the nibs don’t write with as much character as the vintage nibs. Each of my new nibs wrote beautifully out of the box, but I prefer an italic nib. So, I have had all my new nibs modified. The vintage ones have so much character, I would not modify them. Just as an example, in the last eighteen months, I bought three non-Pelikans. I wish I had the money back from each. I could have used that money on Pelikans. In fairness, I am looking forward to getting my Omas Paragon back after John Mottishaw replaces the mushy titanium nib with a new , italicized 18k Omas nib.

This post is like a collective shorts of individuals’ own journey start of fountain pens and Pelikans. I love reading each and every one. Especially delightful to read our post master, Joshua’s write up. Thank you for sharing. Hope more will send in their experience and thoughts. (I have shared mine in an earlier post so won’t repeat here.) 🙂

I really enjoyed this post as I have asked myself the same question many times over the years and the answers have varied. I have collected (mostly vintage) fountain pens for 25 years and amassed hundred of pens from many manufacturers. But the one brand I have focused on the most, and the one brand I recommend to anyone looking for a quality writing instrument, is Pelikan. I guess what impresses me the most about this iconic company is that they didn’t change solely for the sake of change. They stuck with a design and a filling system that is classic, reliable and simple. I have never regretted a single Pelikan acquisition and will continue to add to my collection of Pelikan pens and ephemera. Like the company, why change?

Thank you for this lovely ode to all things Pelikan (as well as for your continued deep dive into the brand.) I stop buy for all my Pelikan news! I started my pen saga much like you, around 2010 or so and quickly accumulated more than I needed or wanted. And like you, I found myself gravitating time and again to my Pelikans, preferring them above all else. They feel an extension of my hand. And as pretty as they are, are never distracting. As a practical kind of gal, I started with the M400’s and stayed there, preferring to have a scant few to house my favorite inks, at the ready always. That said, I’d love dearly to see a purple binde or orange binde and perhaps even a raden in the M400 series. I know, mustn’t be greedy. We 400 folks have had our fair share. I haven’t strayed into the 600 territory for fear of losing my love of the 400’s. So until they have 600’s in all finishes, I’ll content myself with my 400’s.Till then like everyone else, I eagerly await the yearly releases.
Thanks again, Joshua! Great blog!

You’re welcome and thanks for stopping by. The M400 sized pen was my first love. I’ve since become enamored with the M800. There will be an orange release this year but not in the M400 size I’m afraid. No word on anything purple but a few more blues are in the works.

Hi, Josh! Something I have wanted to say for a while, is that I really appreciate the way you handle this blog. I think it’s awesome that you always respond, and respond very nicely, to every person’s comment. That takes dedication. And your knowledge of Pelikans is phenomenal. I learn something every time I read. I have a too-large collection of fountain pens of many brands, but the pens I have in largest number are Pelikans. I’m not sure of the exact number, because I have a few that I’ve misplaced (I know they’re in my house, but just have to find the container they’re in; I’ll be grieving for those till I find them), but I probably have just short of about 20 Pelikans right now. And they are definitely the pens I gravitate to the most. I’ve just made a recent conscious decision to limit future new acquisitions to mostly Pelikans. If I buy another brand of pen, it’ll have to have some very conspicuously desirable (to me) features or it won’t be worth my money. Granted, Pelikans are not perfect; as you say, no brand is perfect. But they’re as close to perfect as I can hope to attain. Anyway, to sum up: thank you for maintaining this awesome, educational, fun-to-read, and friendly space where Pelikan lovers can enthuse endlessly about their love of the Pelikan experience.

Thank you for the very kind words. This blog is a labor of love and I enjoy engaging with the community and appreciate each and every person who stops by. I too have learned a lot over the years from the give and take. I hope you find those missing birds. My flock stay put so I always know where they are. I have some little hands around the house that could do serious damage otherwise.

Yes, I’m sure I would’ve been a lot more careful if I had little hands in the house to worry about. It’s really frustrating – I usually keep that container in ONE particular space. At least I know I didn’t take it anywhere, so it’s GOT to be here in the house somewhere. It is definitely frustrating, to say the least, not knowing exactly where it is. But I’ve learned an important lesson. Instead of just being extra careful, I will now be ULTRA extra careful with my pens. But I’ll just keep looking! I’m sure they’ll turn up soon. They just have to! I won’t feel right with the world until I find those pens.

I got introduced to Pelikan Fountain Pen brand on my visit to Germany in the year 2005.. Of all the pens I had experience to write with, Pelikan M600’s section is ideally suits my style of grip and to the size of my fingers. The gentle flare at the end of the section gives my fingers just the right control over writing (unlike Montblanc Boheme’s grip, which, after writing for a while, starts pinching my forefinger). Also I like their exceptionally smooth nibs.. Thanks for writing this blog and providing us with lots of information on this lovely pen brand..

Another good read here! Right on the money – thoughtful. I was turned on to Pelikans in 1989 from friend (who personally was into Parker Duofolds) I wanted a fountain pen — not real expensive. So – he said “Pelikan, cute clip – like a beak- and I think they invented the piston fill — the original for that” So got my first one (a black 200) then. Many years later I am now getting a few more.

Being at the high end and a flagship model, I’m sure sales impact the number of finishes brought to the big bird. They are going to release a Stresemann version later this year though I was hoping for something a bit more colorful. If that one comes to pass, I’m not going to pursue it since I already have the M405 and M805.

Thank you for a fabulous article summarizing some history with great photography. I have a few Pelikans but find the nibs boring, Lacking character. They don’t seem to have Much personality as you described.
I have considered taking two of them to a Nib-Meister At my next local pen show foursome grinding. Thank you again for inspiring me.

Have you tried any of Pelikan’s vintage nib offerings? Definitely a different ball game compared with their modern nibs. These pens are certainly worth a custom grind if you’re looking for a little excitement.

Just reread this wonderful article. Thank you Joshua! Pelikan has been the focus of my collection for the past few years, since I purchased my first Pelikan, the m400 white tortoise. With every passing year, I am more attached to my Pelikans. I agree with all the writing characteristics you point out (reliability and robustness etc). As a writer, those are essential. After years of using Pelikans everyday, I have to say that the nibs now outpace Montblanc for me in terms of offering an interesting writing feel. There are other great nibs out there too, but I love the traditional design and balance of these pens.

Joshua,
Though I have much more to read, I’ve really enjoyed learning about Pelikan pens from your website, and appreciate both your passion and your thoroughness.
An amazing labor of love, to be sure.
As for me, I’ve collected fountain pens for about twenty years, and have a variety of brands, both vintage and modern, but have yet to purchase a Pelikan (amazing, huh?).
Your website and this post in particular are really getting me excited about that prospect.
I like a little larger pens, and have always loved the classic green-striped Pelikans, but am open to other options as well.
With all that in mind, I have a couple of questions (and I hope that it’s okay to ask them as a comment in this post).
1) Do you know of a brick and mortar retailer that carries Pelikan pens in most sizes, so that I can get a better sense of what “fits me best”? (probably after this whole COVID-19 thing is over, unfortunately…)
2) Do you have any recommendations as to the best value for the money for someone considering their first Pelikan? I’m open to both modern and vintage, and although I prefer piston-fill, I’m willing to consider a cartridge pen as well.
Thanks in advance for any insight that you can provide, and thanks again!
-Glenn

Glenn, hello and thanks for reading the site. A larger pen in green stripes brings a vintage 400NN or the modern M800 to mind. Both are great but different. As far as local retailers, where are you located? There are a few around but not a ton I’m afraid. Fountain Pen Hospital in NY is one that comes to mind but there are others. As far as value for the money, buying vintage or buying new from overseas are your best bets. Buying a new Pelikan in the US will be your most expensive option by far. The links section of my site has a list of trusted retailers. Hope that helps. Feel free to contact me at thepelikansperch@gmail.com if you have additional queries.

Thank you for this site! I just got my first Pelikan, a 140 (the up-to-1964 era), with an EF nib (assuming all those nibs back then are flex), and am super excited! It’ll be used near daily, I hope! Your site was invaluable in the process of researching and selecting a pen, so I wanted to thank you for providing this amazing resource.

I just placed the order, and cannot wait for it to get here! It’s supposedly in excellent condition, so I think that while I may have paid a little more for it than I expected, it will be well worth it. They aren’t made any more! I will likely look at 400 series pens too, and may well get a contemporary M600 (the original plan before I went down the Pelikan rabbithole…).

I grew up with fountain pens, using them in school as a kid, and I love vintage (my engagement ring is from the 50s as well). So this was a meaningful start to the Pelikan journey!

Well, I’m hooked, because I found a beautiful 400NN in a tortoise that I just had to have. Stopping here for now, because my budget for the moment is exceeded. The M600s will be around for a while, so no rush there, at least…

And to think I was just going to get one M600. I think that’s as large as my small hands (6 inches long wrist to tip of fingers and 6.5 inches span) can take.

By the way, last night I showed your amazing site to my husband. Do you realize that you’ve basically written a book on here! It’s such a wonderful resource. Thanks again for being the enthusiast!

P.S. I’m particularly excited to see the older stripes, in all their glorious irregularity. The contemporary pens are lovely too, but they’re tidier and more regular. Each has its charm, but boy do I love old things!

You’re falling down the rabbit hole quickly. Nothing wrong with that as I followed much the same path. You picked probably the best two Pelikan vintage pens to get started with. As you said, the M600 will be around for a long time so no rush there. Thank you for the kind words about the site. I’ve often toyed with the idea of converting some of the more useful post into a book but that is quite a project and one that I simply do not have time for given my current family and career obligations. Maybe one day…

Oh yes, down the rabbit hole indeed! Nothing like diving where one’s falling, right? And your recommendations were very helpful in all this.

Well, I am an editor of academic manuscripts (former professor), so when you are past this stage and wishing to get the book together, drop me a line! Thanks again. I’m excited to be on this journey and to join the community of Pelikan fans.

Oops, I think the 140s are semi flex — the ones before 1930s are considered full-on flex, right? I’ve been reading so much on all this but can’t remember the exact dates, but do remember that before the late 60s-70s, the nibs had more flexibility than later pens.

The 140 is semi-flex at best and that is actually how I would characterize most of Pelikan’s vintage nibs. Also, there weren’t nibs before the 1930s since the company didn’t start making fountain pens until 1929. Some examples have more flex than others and some have none at all. Regardless of the flex, the 140 nibs are springy and expressive and should be a joy to write with if tuned well.

Oh, I see. I’m TERRIBLE with dates — almost anything sounds plausible to me. 🙂 I have read some places that some of them were fully flex. At any rate, I write with a light touch, so this will be great.

You will find that some sources over emphasize the flex of these nibs. Certain variants are very flexible but there is a lot of individual variation. It’s all pot luck depending on the nib you get. Flex aside, the pen shouldn’t disappoint.

Thank you for this site. Have been into fountain lens for the past year and have always been intrigued with the Pelikan. Recently thanks to this website, acquired my first Pelikan, a M1005 in EF. Its a great writer but a little scratchy at some angles. Will need to smoothen that out once this Covid-19 settles down a little. Thank you for all your work.

I’m glad that you enjoy my work. You really dove in there with your first Pelikan. The M1005 is great pen for sure. My EF is smooth so make sure that your tines are aligned before doing anything more aggressive and enjoy. You’ll get a whole flock of them before you know it.

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